2019 Ménaka mid-air collision

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Aviation accident

2019 Ménaka mid-air collision
Collision
Date	25 November 2019 (2019-11-25)
Summary	Mid-air collision
Site	near Ménaka, Ménaka Region, Northern Mali
Operator	French Armed Forces
Fatalities	13
Survivors	0

On 25 November 2019, two French military helicopters, part of Operation Barkhane, crashed in northern Mali, killing 13 soldiers. It was the deadliest incident involving the French military since the 1983 Beirut barracks bombings.

Crash

A French Eurocopter Tiger attack helicopter collided with a Eurocopter AS532 Cougar military transport helicopter at low-altitude at night while on a sortie near the town of Ménaka in Northern Mali.^[1] The helicopters were in the midst of pursuing militants on vehicles and motor-bikes, after ground forces had called in for air support. For unknown reasons, the two helicopters collided and crashed killing all on board.^[2]

Casualties

Six officers and a master corporal were among the 13 fatalities. One of those killed, Pierre-Emmanuel Bockel, was the son of French Senator Jean-Marie Bockel.^[3] Bockel was the pilot of the 'Cougar' helicopter.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b "Mali : treize militaires français tués dans l'accident de deux hélicoptères lors d'une opération de combat". France Bleu (in French). 2019-11-26. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
^ "French troops killed in helicopter crash in Mali". 2019-11-26. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
^ "Thirteen French soldiers killed in Mali helicopter accident". France 24. 2019-11-26. Retrieved 2019-11-26.